Michelle Obama Wears Second Jason Wu Dress to Inaugural Ball: Which Is Better?

Michelle Obama and Jason Wu are a match made in heaven. For her second inaugural ball on Jan. 21, 2013, the First Lady collaborated with the same fashion designer who created her show-stopping look four years earlier.

At the Southern Regional Inaugural Ball at the D.C. Armory in January 2009, the 49-year-old mother of two wore a custom one-shoulder, floor-length white chiffon gown by Wu. "I was over the moon," the then-fledgling designer told The New York Times. "I know I am an unusual choice for a first lady. I didn't think it was my turn yet."

Designing for the First Lady is no easy task, Wu admitted. "I sent a couple sketches but we only made one dress. Red was what came to my head right away. As a designer I always have to trust my instincts," the clothier recalled. "Last time, she didn't [make suggestions], but this time I said, 'I think red is a really good color' and they said, 'Well, Mrs. Obama thinks red is a good color too. I guess we were in sync from the beginning."

"We worked pretty closely with the team to perfect the dress," Wu said of Michelle's gorgeous gown, which she paired with a Kimberly McDonald ring and Jimmy Choo shoes. "There [were] a lot of back and forth trips . . . it took a couple of months."

Wu added that he had a "wonderful" time designing a dress "that is a part of history."